Images broadcasted by the state television showed dozens of the armed groups that were barricaded in the neighborhood of Deraa Al-Balad in the provincial capital, laying down their weapons in the reconciliation centers established by the Army in different points of the city.

According to military sources, the authorities were given the power to pardon the irregulars, thus normalizing the legal status of the insurgents who voluntarily surrendered their weapons.

That action comes after Deraa’s authorities and representatives of the armed forces announced the reaching of an agreement stipulating a cease-fire, the surrender of weapons to the army and the transfer of terrorists who refuse to reconcile to northern Syria.

Despite the intransigence of the extremists and their repeated provocations and constant attacks against civilians and military, the Syrian Army command has opted since mid-2018 for dialogue and negotiations to reach a settlement mediated by Russia.

Such actions seek to avoid a military operation of destruction, loss of human lives and displacement of civilians that the radicals take as human shields.

Deraa was allegedly free of terrorism in the summer of 2018 following a Russian-sponsored reconciliation process.

At that time, the extremists surrendered their medium and heavy weapons; however, attacks continued by remnant groups who reject reconciliation.

As a result, 260 army and police personnel, 19 mayors and 120 civilians were killed, and 500 villagers and soldiers were wounded.

ef/omr/oda/fm